«Today is my first day working with your dad. I am nervous.»
«Everything will turn out well,» said Valentina, preparing coffee. «My dad is very enthusiastic with your ideas.»
«Speaking of that, did you talk with him about the power of attorney?»
«Not yet, but I will try today.»
«Perfect.»
When Alexander left for the company, Valentina immediately called Richard.
«Dad, can I talk with you?»
«Sure, daughter. Did something happen?»
«No, nothing grave. It’s about Alexander.»
«What happens with him? Everything good?»
«Yes, yes. It’s that he is very enthusiastic about helping in the business. Even he asked if you could give him a power of attorney to expedite some procedures.»
There was a pause on the other end.
«A power of attorney? Daughter, he barely started working with me. Don’t you believe that it’s very soon?»
«I told him the same, but he insisted that he really wants to help.»
«Let me think about it. For now, I will teach him the basics.»
«Sure, Dad. There is no hurry.»
«Valentina, can I ask you something?»
«Go ahead.»
«Are you okay? Since the wedding, you look different.»
Valentina breathed deep. «I am okay, Dad. There are many changes at once.»
«I understand. If you need something, here I am.»
«Thanks, Dad.»
Upon hanging up, Valentina got ready to go out. She had an appointment with one of the people to whom Alexander owed money. The encounter was in a cafe in the center. Valentina arrived at noon and searched for a gray-haired man of forty years old named Ramirez.
«Are you Valentina?» he asked when approaching.
«Yes. Are you Ramirez?»
«The same. Sit down.»
Ramirez didn’t look like the dangerous criminal that Valentina imagined. He was a common man, dressed simply, who could pass for any merchant.
«So you are Alexander’s wife,» said he, stirring his coffee.
«That’s how it is.»
«And do you want to pay his debts?»
«That’s how it is, but with some conditions.»
Ramirez laughed. «Conditions? Girl, you are not in a position to put conditions.»
«Yes, I am. You guys want the money. I have the money, but I need some things in exchange.»
«What things?»
Valentina breathed deep. «I need you guys to pressure Alexander for a few days more. Don’t do anything violent. Just keep him scared.»
«And why do you want that?»
«Let’s say that I’m planning to give him a lesson.»
Ramirez studied her a moment. «You discovered that he married you for money, right?»
«How do you know?»
«Girl, a man who owes eight hundred thousand dollars doesn’t marry for love. He marries for necessity.»
«Eight hundred thousand? Does he owe all that to you guys?»
«To us, and to five other people. Alexander got into many problems.»
«And if I pay everything, then he stays free. But before that, can you guys help me with something?»
«Depends.»
Valentina told Ramirez about her plans to catch Alexander robbing the family. Ramirez heard everything with attention.
«Interesting,» said he at the end. «And do you believe that this will work?»
«I am sure.»
«And what do you gain with that?»
«The certainty that he will never hurt anyone again.»
Ramirez reflected. «Alright, let’s do this. I give you five days to get the proof. Meanwhile, we continue pressuring him. Afterward, you pay the debt, and we disappear from his life.»
«Deal.»
«But if something goes wrong, if he discovers what you do, we aren’t responsible.»
«Understood.»
Ramirez stood up to leave. «A question. Why don’t you just ask for the divorce and that’s it?»
«Not only for me, but for all the women he tried to trick.»
«Are you brave or very stupid? Maybe both.»
When Valentina arrived home, Alexander was already there, nervous.
«How did it go for you the first day?» she asked.
«Well, complicated.»
«Why?»
«Your father is very cautious. He hasn’t let me do anything important yet.»
«It’s normal. First, he needs to trust you.»
«I know, but Val, that thing about the authorization. What happened? Did you talk with him?»
«Yes, he said that he will think about it.»
Alexander seemed frustrated. «Ah, I expected a more positive response.»
«Alexander, relax. It’s only been a few days. Soon, he will give you more responsibilities.»
«It’s that, well, I have some pressures. People collecting old debts.»
«What debts?»
Alexander hesitated. «Nothing grave. Just pending accounts.»
«How much do you owe?»
«It’s not much. Some twenty, thirty thousand?»
More lies. He owed almost a million and said it was thirty thousand.
«Alexander, why didn’t you tell me before?»
«I didn’t want to worry you. I thought that with my new work, I would resolve it fast.»
«Can I help you?»
«Seriously?»
«Of course. We are spouses. Your problems are mine.»
Alexander embraced her. «Val, you are incredible. I knew that I made the right decision.»
Right decision to trick, he must have thought.
«How much do you need exactly?»
«Well, maybe some fifty thousand, to pay everything and be quiet.»
Fifty thousand out of a million; he lied shamelessly.
«Okay. Tomorrow, I will transfer it to you.»
«Seriously? Just like that?»
«Alexander, I love you. I want you to be calm to focus on work.»
«You are perfect,» said he, kissing her.
That night, while Alexander slept, Valentina called Sophia.
«How was the meeting?» asked her sister.
«Better than expected. They will cooperate.»
«And Alexander?»
«He is desperate. He asked to borrow fifty thousand dollars.»
«Fifty thousand of a million?»
«Exactly. And tomorrow, I will give it to him.»
«Why?»
«To be the perfect wife. He needs to trust me for the plan to function.»
«And the proof?»
«I am on it. He is already asking my dad for a power of attorney. It’s a matter of time until he tries something more concrete.»
«Valentina, are you sure you know what you are doing?»
«I am. Trust me.»
The next morning, Valentina went to the bank and transferred fifty thousand dollars to Alexander’s account. When he saw the transfer, he almost cried with relief.
«Valentina, thank you so much. You don’t know the weight that you took off me.»
«I imagine. Now you can concentrate on work.»
«Exactly. By the way, about that power of attorney…»
«Alexander, my dad needs time. You understand, right?»
«I understand, but… Valentina, can I tell you something? I have some ideas for expanding the family businesses, but I need access to some documents to study them better.»
«What type of documents?»
«Contracts with suppliers, account statements, that type of thing. It’s nothing out of this world.»
«And what do you need that for?»
«To understand better how the business functions so I can suggest improvements.»
Valentina pretended to consider. «It makes sense. I can ask my dad to give you access to that information.»
«Seriously, it would be perfect.»
«But Alexander, do you promise that you will use that information only for studying?»
«Of course. For what else would I use it?»
To rob, she thought.
«All right. I will talk with him today.»
Alexander kissed her excitedly. «You are the best wife in the world.»
If only he knew that he was digging his own grave. Valentina called Richard.
«Dad, Alexander is very interested in understanding the businesses better. He asked if you could give him access to some documents to study them.»
«What documents?»
«Contracts, account statements, those things. He wants to suggest improvements?»
Richard stayed pensive. «Daughter, that is very sensitive company information.»
«I know, Dad. But now he is family and seems really interested in helping.»
«Let me talk with him first. See what type of ideas he has.»
«Sure.»
«Valentina, can I ask you something?»
«Go ahead.»
«Is this interest of Alexander in the businesses not being a bit too intense?»
Valentina faked surprise. «How so?»
«It’s that he asks many questions about values, accounts, suppliers. For someone who barely started…»
«Dad, he just wants to impress you, demonstrate that he is dedicated.»
«Maybe. But I’m going to be on the lookout.»
«Sure, you are right to be cautious.»
When Valentina hung up, she noticed that Richard already suspected. That was good and bad at the same time. Good, because he would not be easily tricked. Bad, because he could discover her plans too.
In the afternoon, Alexander returned from work visibly frustrated.
«How did it go today?» asked Valentina.
«Your dad is being very cautious. He barely lets me see the basic documents.»
«It’s his personality. He has always been like that.»
«But how am I going to be able to help if I don’t understand how the business functions?»
«Give it time, Alexander. You have only been there two days.»
«Yes, but… Valentina, do you believe that your dad trusts me?»
«Of course he does. Why do you ask?»
«Today he asked me some weird questions about my interest in the company figures.»
Valentina dissimulated her worry. «What type of questions?»
«He asked why I wanted to know about the gains of the last few years. He said that it wasn’t relevant to my initial work.»
«And what did you respond?»
«That I wanted to understand the potential for growth. But he didn’t seem convinced.»
«Alexander, relax. My dad is distrustful by nature; that’s how he has protected the company all these years.»
«Yes, maybe you are right.»
But Alexander continued to worry, and Valentina knew that he was getting desperate. That night, Alexander’s phone rang. He answered nervously.
«Hello?»
Valentina could not hear what the person said on the other side, but she saw Alexander paling.
«I know. Yes, I know that the deadline is up. No. I still haven’t got it. I need some days more.»
Alexander went out to the balcony to continue the conversation. When he returned, he was visibly altered.
«Who was it?» asked Valentina.
«Nobody. Work problem?»
«Problem? But you have barely been working for two days.»
«It’s a matter of an old client from the office where I worked before.»
More lies.
«Alexander, are you okay? You look nervous.»
«I am perfect, only tired.»
But he wasn’t perfect. He was terrified.
The next morning, Alexander left early for work, more nervous than ever.
«Valentina, will you talk today with your dad about the loan?»
«I will do it. It’s important.»
«Very important.»
«I understand. And if he asks what the money is for, what do I tell him?»
«That it’s for liquidating all our debts and starting a new life without financial worries?»
«Okay.»
After Alexander left, Valentina called Richard immediately.
«Dad, he is desperate.»
«How so?»
«He asked to borrow another one hundred thousand, and the deadline is Friday.»
«Friday? What deadline?»
«The one from his creditors. If he doesn’t pay by Friday, they will take drastic measures.»
«Valentina, this is getting very dangerous.»
«I know, Dad. For that reason, I must accelerate the plan.»
«What plan?»
«I will give him the money today, but with one condition.»
«What condition?»
«That he uses the power of attorney to make the transfer directly from the company account.»
«Valentina, that is very risky.»
«It’s the only way to catch him red-handed, Dad. If he makes the transfer, we will have legal proof of attempted robbery.»
Richard reflected. «And if he doesn’t accept doing it for the company?»
«He will accept. He is too desperate to question it.»
«All right, but I will monitor everything in real time.»
«Perfect.»
Valentina called Alexander.
«Love, I talked with my dad about the loan.»
«And?»
«He accepted lending us the money.»
Alexander sighed, relieved. «Thanks, Valentina. You saved my life.»
«But there is a condition.»
«What condition?»
«Since it is a high amount, he wants you to make the transfer directly from the corporate account, so it will be easier for him to control the money.»
Alexander hesitated. «From the company account?»
«Yes. He said that you have power of attorney, so you can make the transfer this afternoon.»
«Hmm. All right. It makes sense. Can you do it today?»
«Yes, I can. To what account do I transfer the money?»
«You can transfer it directly to your personal account. Afterward, you resolve the debts.»
«Perfect. Valentina, thanks, truly.»
«Don’t mention it, love.»
When Valentina hung up, she knew that she had put the plan in motion. Alexander was so desperate that he accepted doing exactly what she wanted: use the power of attorney to transfer money from the company to his personal account. That would be enough evidence to sue him for fraud and embezzlement.